Joyriders nick car with girl of five fast asleep in back seat

A GANG of joyriders stole a car with a five-year-old girl fast asleep in the back.

A GANG of joyriders stole a car with a five-year-old girl fast asleep in the back.

The youngster’s dad had left her in the vehicle with the key still in the ignition while he nipped out to buy a takeaway.

But when he came out he was horrified to see the car gone along with his daughter. He called police and after a frantic search the car was found two streets away, with the girl still sound asleep.

The drama unfolded after the dad, who did not want to be named, parked his Skoda Fabia outside the Royal Chef Chinese takeaway in St Helen Auckland, Co Durham.

Det Con Mark Forster of Durham Police said the dad suffered a harrowing ordeal and warned against leaving ­children in cars. He added: “This was an extremely distressing ­incident for the victim, who feared for the safety of his young child.

“Thankfully, we quickly located the car and were able to reunite the victim with his child, who was safe and well and had not even woken up during the incident.

“The victim has been given words of advice about the wisdom of leaving a child on their own in a car. I would like to remind people they should under no ­circumstances leave cars unattended with keys in the ignition. We are appealing for anyone who might have seen the car being stolen or abandoned to come forward.”

Witnesses said they saw a gang wearing dark grey tops were get into the car while the dad was in the takeaway.

Four youths aged 14 to 17 were arrested and released on police bail pending further inquiries.